Origin
Balsam, MN
Morning in Balsam on Tuesday
Local time
11:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Balsam, MN to Kimberly, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
48m
Distance
30.8 mi
49 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Balsam, MN
Tom Fisk
Kimberly, MN
Guilherme Simão
Trip Overview
Balsam to Kimberly is 30.8 miles and takes about 48 minutes via Lake Avenue and State Highway 210, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short Midwest drive connects two points within Minnesota, making it an easy day trip. The journey offers a mixed driving experience, primarily utilizing state highways. With a minimal fuel cost and a quick travel time, this route is ideal for a spontaneous outing or a quick errand.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Avenue | 9.4 mi | 12m |
| State Highway 210 | 7.5 mi | 9m |
| State Highway 65 | 7.1 mi | 9m |
| Nature Avenue | 3.7 mi | 9m |
| Kestrel Avenue | 3 mi | 7m |
| West Highway 210 | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Lake Avenue
— 9.4 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Balsam, MN and Kimberly, MN.
1
Start on CR 64
3.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Kestrel Avenue
2
Turn left onto CR 14
9.4 mi
·
12 min
·
Lake Avenue
3
Turn left onto MN 65
7.1 mi
·
9 min
·
State Highway 65
4
Turn right onto MN 210
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
West Highway 210
5
Continue on MN 210
7.5 mi
·
9 min
·
State Highway 210
6
Turn left onto CR 5
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Nature Avenue
7
Continue on CR 5
2.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Nature Avenue
8
Arrive at destination
CR 5
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
First break window
Fuel and coffeeA short stop after about 30.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.4 miles from Balsam, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
4 of 44 decision points cluster between mile 3 and 27 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
3 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
CR 14 / Lake Avenue
Turn left onto CR 14 / Lake Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
12.4 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
MN 65 / State Highway 65
Turn left onto MN 65 / State Highway 65
Navigation decision point
4
19.4 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
MN 210 / West Highway 210
Turn right onto MN 210 / West Highway 210
Navigation decision point
4
27 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
CR 5 / Nature Avenue
Turn left onto CR 5 / Nature Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.58 one way
$9.17 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $4.94 | $9.88 |
| premium | $4.53 | $5.50 | $10.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.80 | $13.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.23 | $1.48 |
| Efficient EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.70 | $1.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.31 | $1.97 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Kimberly, MN
Morning in Kimberly on Tuesday
Local time
11:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
21 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
48m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This 30.8-mile trip features a mixed drive, with 48% of it on highways. You'll experience about 9.4 miles on Lake Avenue as the longest uninterrupted stretch, offering a consistent pace before transitioning. The route incorporates State Highway 210 and State Highway 65, providing a blend of faster highway segments and potentially more local road conditions. Expect a varied driving experience that isn't solely focused on interstate speed.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.4 mi on Lake Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in near CR 14 / Lake Avenue.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Balsam, MN to Kimberly, MN is easy. At 48m with 48% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles (CR 14 / Lake Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 12.4 miles (MN 65 / State Highway 65): Navigation decision point; at 19.4 miles (MN 210 / West Highway 210): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 30.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9.4 miles on Lake Avenue. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles (CR 14 / Lake Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 12.4 miles (MN 65 / State Highway 65): Navigation decision point; at 19.4 miles (MN 210 / West Highway 210): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Kimberly, MN before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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